Residency Based Taxation Call Script

Join the Democrats Abroad RBT Calling Campaign! Find full information about DA's campaign here. Below, you'll find a sample script for your calls. Once you're done, tag your friends on social media and encourage them to join the event as well!

Hello, my name is [name] and I am [Representative/Senator]’s constituent in [County, State]. [If calling a Representative: My ZIP code is [ZIP].]

I currently live in [city, country] and I am calling to ask [Representative/Senator] to support Residency Based Taxation. As you may know, the US is the only developed country that taxes its citizens on their worldwide income, even when those citizens live abroad and no matter how long they’ve lived abroad. That means I pay taxes in [country] where I live, and I file a tax return with the IRS every year. IRS tax forms for declaring foreign income are a lot more complicated, so besides being a nuisance, filing abroad is complex, costly, and very stressful.

I’m an ordinary US citizen. I moved to [country] to [be with my partner / be with my family / to take an exciting job / other]. I / my family cannot afford to be double-taxed. I’m / we’re not wealthy, with lots of disposable income to spend on tax preparation.

I value my US citizenship. I vote in every election. I pay attention to US politics. But I don't think it's fair that I am taxed in [country of residence] as well as in the US on income I earn abroad. The current law is costly, punitive, and unfair, causing many Americans overseas to consider renouncing US citizenship. I hope that shocks you because it shocks me.

That is why I'm asking [Representative/Senator] to change the US tax laws from Citizenship Based Taxation to Residency Based Taxation. Thank you.